Roman Historia

To anyone entering the arena of Roman politics, the need to forge and maintain political alliances was a key skill to master. Whether it was for a bitterly fought election over the Consulship, or the direction of a senatorial debate, the use of political alliances has remained a constant theme throughout Roman history. Within the sphere of Roman politics, various different factors could be used to bring individuals together under the banner of a political faction – such as family ties, financial commitments, personal friendships or simply just mutual interests.  For any young senator looking to advance through the cursus , it was vital that they were able to navigate through the centuries old traditions of faction building to ensure that they could gain the required political support. Whilst these traditions were often highly complex, an insight into the art of alliance building can be gleamed from a highly publicised event in the history of the late republic – ...

This is part two of the First Triumvirate series. To view part one, click here ! As Caesar ended his Consulship and departed for his new role as governor of Gaul, the three triumvirs - Pompey, Crassus and Caesar - appeared unstoppable. Between the wealth and contacts of Crassus, the heroic stature and military legacy of Pompey and the political daring of Caesar, those conservatives within the Senate that once opposed the trio now found themselves at their mercy. However, despite their initial successes, all was not well between the three. It would be the impact of the ensuing split within this political alliance - and the resulting factions that would rise from its ashes - that would eventually lead the Republic into a bloody civil war. Growing Tensions It was within Rome itself that the first signs of tension between the three leaders could be seen. By 57 BC, political clashes within the capital had become endemic. Mobs of supporters, led by opposing charismatic lea...

In the highly competitive and vicious world of Roman politics, the art of alliance building was a well established tradition. Whether it be the competing factions of Marius and Sulla or the tightly knit alliance of conservatives in the Senate (known as the Optimates) led by Cato, both clientelism and patronage were accepted as part and parcel of political strategy. Despite this, the alliance between Pompey, Crassus and Caesar that formed in 60 BC sent shockwaves across the Roman world – and would eventually bring the Republic to its knees. To understand what made this alliance just so powerful, we must first look to how it came about. Forming the Triumvirate By 60 BC, tensions were rising within the world of Roman politics. Pompey, having successfully waged a war in the East against Mithridates, was looking to consolidate his gains and have the veterans that served under him given land as a reward for their services. Whilst Pompey saw this as a fair and reasonable demand...